Parm  Prize  Competition,  1909. 
275 
to  time,  and  unsatisfactory  cows  rejected.  The  milk  all  goes  to 
London,  and,  throughout  the  year,  averages  8^d.  a gallon,  which 
includes  Id.  per  gallon  for  carriage,  paid  by  Mr.  Waters. 
Sheep. — The  flock  of  registered  Hampshire  Downs  con- 
sists of  : — 
149  Two-teeth  Ewes 
162  Four-teeth  Ewes 
135  Six-teeth  Ewes 
24  Over-age  Ewes 
4 Rams 
170  Ewe  Tegs 
470  Ewes 
and,  later,  626  lambs.  The  flock  was  established  in  1896 
by  purchases  from  the  best  known  breeders,  and  has  met 
with  considerable  success  at  the  fairs  and  in  the  competitions 
organised  by  the  Hampshire  Down  Sheep  Breeders’  Association. 
In  the  Association  Flock  Prize  Competition  the  second  prize 
was  secured,  131  per  cent,  of  lambs  to  ewes  having  been  reared 
and  only  six  ewes  lost — a very  creditable  result.  At  the 
Salisbury  Fair  of  1908  this  flock  took  first  prize  for  100  regular 
draft  ewes,  first  for  100  shearling  ewes,  and  first  for  wether 
lambs.  The  ram  lambs  saved  this  season  numbered  85,  and 
averaged  seven  guineas  each  at  the  fair. 
Management  of  the  Hampshire  Flock  — The  rams  are  put 
with  the  ewes  on  August  8,  from  which  date  the  first  lambs 
are  expected  to  fall  on  January  1.  About  ten  to  fourteen  days 
before  the  rams  are  put  out  the  ewes  are  given  fresh  folds 
of  rape  and  turnips  to  flush  them,  after  which  they  are  drawn 
in  flocks  of  from  80  to  100,  and  a ram,  of  the  character  and 
style  likely  to  produce  the  ideal  Hampshire  type,  is  put  with 
each  lot  and  remains  until  they  all  have  been  mated.  The 
ewes  are  all  given  a distinctive  mark  with  paint,  to  show  with 
which  ram  they  have  been  mated,  and  at  lambing  time  the 
lambs  are  all  notched  in  the  ears,  so  that  their  pedigree  may  be 
known.  The  ewes  are  allowed  such  quantity  of  turnips  as 
they  will  clean  up  daily,  with  the  run  of  the  grass  down  until 
November  1.  At  this  time  hay  is  given  at  the  rate  of  from  1^ 
to  2 lb.  per  head,  the  turnips  reduced  to  two  or  three  roots  per 
head,  and  the  ewes  allowed  a run  out  on  the  down  daily.  This 
continues  until  within  fourteen  days  of  lambing  time;  when 
the  addition  of  lb.  per  head  per  day  of  linseed  cake,  with  a 
small  fold  of  grass,  is  allowed.  This  allowance  keeps  the  ewes 
healthy  and  considerably  assists  the  quantity  and  quality  of 
the  milk.  It  is  an  important  principle  not  to  allow  the  ewes 
any  swedes  until  they  have  lambed.  After  lambing,  the 
ewes  with  twins  are  given  1 lb.  per  head,  and  the  ewes  with 
single  lambs  ^ lb.  per  head  of  linseed  cake  and  cotton  cake, 
mixed  in  equal  proportions.  This  continues  until  the  lambs 
